St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-31
BEYOND THE AVERAGE.
A Year of Enormous Business Closes
Rather Dull.
THE AVERAGE VERY GOOD.
The Years Failures Show Decrease
of 200, But an Increase In
Liabilities.

New YORK. Dee. 30.-R. G. Dun d
Co., in their weekly review of trade,
say: A year of enormous business
closes with little more than the sea-
sonable dullness. Transactions much
beyond the average in September and
October prepared for some slackening
of trade in November and December,
which has been increased by tariff I'M
certaintieS, by several strikes OF i'm
pOrtance, and by speculative advance
in prices. Unusual pressure for money
during the fall, on the other hand,
caused adjustments which prevent Sc
we're pressure as the year closes, and eX-
cept at few Western points the money
markets are comparatively easy, with
collections almost everywhere fair, and
at most points reasonably good. The
holiday trade has generally been large,
and the recent change in weather brings
greater activity in some branches. But
the pending strikes and controversies
about wages, and uncertainties as to the
future in some of.the largest industries,
operate unfavorably.
THE EASE OF MONEY,
and the belief that the Reading strike
would not last, have helped stocks to
improve until to-day, when the day
opened with some reaction. Hopes of
activity and advance after New Years
sustain prices, but the great movement
of foreign capital hitherward for invest
ment has ceased, at least for the time.
In November trade statistics indicate
that the outgoing slightly exceed the
incoming goods and capital. December
exports, at New York 1.2 per cent below
, last year, against imports IL per cent
below, indicate that at least $15, 100000
lin goods and cash has probably gone
IabrOad, and foreign sales have exceeded
purchases of securities. If continued
this movement will affect the placing
of securities for new roads, and thus in
fluence great industries. The dying
year has seen 12,724 miles of railway
: finished, making the mileage for the
United States 150.710, but changes of
freight rates at the West tend steadily
downward, lessening the prospect for
building next year. The Pennsylvania
reports a decrease of $4,000 in net
earnings for November, and the Erie
decrease of So. 233.
THE IRON INDUSTRY,
after the largest years output on rec
ord, is rapidly cutting down production,
prices and, at many points, wages.
Since March the average of all grades at
Philadelphia has declined SLAP, and of
rails So. Sales of 10000 tons of Alabama
and Tennessee iron are reported. but no
sales of rails, for which next years
orders cover only 100000 tons. The
Western Nail association lowers the
card rate from S2.25 TO g. The cotton
industry records for the year larger pro-
auctions, sales and profits than for 1886,
Il al Il, nrzf
demand, stocks well cleaned up. and
many makes sold well ahead. But the
wooden manufacture is described as
having about the most unsatisfactory
year it has ever experienced, with buSi-s
ness smaller and profits smaller than
last years. Enormous impOrtatiOnS
have left a large stock of dress goods on
hand; OvercOatings are moving fairly,
but fine goods at > to 10 per cent decline
THE COAL PRoDU CTION
has been the largest OH record, but the
market closes with some excitement,
the Lehigh strike continuing. while
dispatches affirm that the Reading
miners will strike Jan. l. The grocery
trade has been very large for the year.
and closes with fair activity. notwith-
standing that speculation III coffee. and
the rise in sugar following the reports
vi d 0CCIC0OC VI cO-sooO ettA0 COSS PAO
duct. Provisions hold the recent ad-
vance, beef is again a shade dearer, and
there has been a rise of 6 cents in oil.
Cotton, in spite of small receipts, is
shade lower, but breadstulfS have risen,
wheat and corn about L cent each. The
treasury has added S114,000 10 its de-
posts with banks, and $1,000 900 to the
circulation during the week. 1t has
now
INCREAs SEQ TIE CIRCULATION
of coin and paper about S64 100000 since
July 1. and $3.50, 600 since July /,
1856. The incomplete returns of clear
ing house exchanges indicate all aggre-
gate for the year exceeding So, 000,G 00,-
600, with gain of about per cent over
last year, but November showed a small
decrease, and in December the decrease
in payments has been considerable.
The years failures show decrease of
200 in number, but a large increase of
SAB, 000, GOO in liabilities, as follows: 1887,
number, 9,C3I; liabilities, 161,560, 044;
average, S17.392; 1886, number, 1854:
liabilities, Sf14, GA. 119; average, S1l.651.
The returns for the dominion of CAN
ada show 1882 failures, with S16.3l1,7 i5
liabilities. average S1l,S13 The failures
i'll the dominion were i'll every 81 per-
sons in business in business: in the
United States they average in every
Ill persons.